Geog 340 Virtual Field Trip Assignments

The virtual field trips component of this class is intended
to allow you to explore, in some detail, places in North America
that interest you and to provide practice in describing
interesting places and issues to your colleagues.
(Places associated with larger issues or concerns can make the
latter more concrete.)
I wonder how well we can bring a geographer's eye for place,
landscape, life-ways, and statistical arcanery, to the post-modern
eclecticism of internet moderated
exploration of the world to produce compelling and informative
vignettes.

Presentations

The goal is brief (~10 minute) oral presentations making
specific places in North America memorable for your classmates.
Explore and present the character of the place in geographic
context, integrating information from multiple sources.

Reference to physiographic, environmental, ecological, cultural and
administrative contexts should figure into the content.
The sources should include your text, Google Earth, Street View,
U.S. Census Bureau, "Confluence", newspapers, web articles, etc.
Instruction on using these resources will be provided in class.

The presentations should demonstrate your growing geographer's
perspective and analytic competence as well as your ability to communicate
orally. The presentations should be clear, well organized, and
make appropriate use of maps, (aerial) photographs, statistical
tables and summary graphics to convey your meaning and
impressions.

Provisional Hallmarks

The hallmarks that I think we should consider for these are
(subject to revision):

college level comportment, presence, and speaking style

organize content for clarity of presentation

identify and characterize places/landmarks/landscapes

use of terms and concepts from geography

integrate multiple sources

integration of statistical data

approriate use of legible maps, aerial photographs and diagrams

one page summary/focus outline to include

place/feature name

latitude and longitude

locator map

summary of the place's character and significance

references to sources

Grading will be based on the fit to the hallmarks, as assessed
by the class and myself. Constructive feedback will be provided.